UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > F2 Testing: Snetterton 06/05/2009

Wickens tops first official session

The 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship looks set to be incredibly close, with less than one second covering the top 21 drivers during the morning test session at Snetterton today (Wednesday).

Despite running on basic set-ups, it wasn't long before Austrian Philipp Eng dipped under the minute mark, but experienced Spanish driver Andy Soucek set the fastest lap overall - a 59.817s, which was quick enough to remain on top at the end of the session: "It is nice to set a good time, but it is important to be at the top at the end of the championship," said Soucek. "Now this afternoon I hope to find some more time by trying different set-ups."

Milos Pavlovic left it until his penultimate lap to also complete a sub-one minute lap, ending up just 0.007s behind Eng: "I only did one real run on new tyres," said Pavlovic. "I left it until the end so it was a nice lap. I am really impressed with the car so far."

Mirko Bortolotti and Alex Brundle set the fourth and fifth quickest times respectively.

The entire field will take to the track again this afternoon, with all of the cars now running on new Avon tyre compounds.

AM Session - Official Snetterton F2 Test 06/05/2009:

1. Andy SOUCEK ESP 59.817s
2. Philipp ENG AUT 59.963s
3. Milos PAVLOVIC SRB 59.970s
4. Mirko BORTOLOTTI ITA Red Bull 1m00.032s
5. Alex BRUNDLE GBR Sen, GAC, Nasstar 1m00.077s
6. Robert WICKENS CAN Red Bull, Lukoil 1m00.149s
7. Carlos IACONELLI BRA 1m00.187s
8. Sebastian HOHENTHAL SWE Mafi 1m00.220s
9. Julien JOUSSE FRA E. Leclerc 1m00.327s
10. Armaan EBRAHIM IND JK Racing 1m00.341s

The first official FIA Formula Two Championship test has concluded at Snetterton, with Canadian Rob Wickens finishing the day at the top of the timesheets with a time of 59.433s.

Wickens' flying lap, which was set deep into the afternoon session, was nearly bettered immediately afterwards by fellow Red Bull junior driver Mirko Bortolotti, but the Italian missed out by just 0.168s. "It was a good reward and a good way to end the first test day of testing," Wickens stated, "but ultimately it's only the first day of a long season. I really enjoyed it and I felt very comfortable in the car. The competition is very tight. I was surprised at one point when I was only three tenths off the best time, but I was way down in the overall positions. It's definitely what you can expect from the whole season and I think it should be good."

Bortolotti, who was fourth in the morning session, insisted that his main focus had been on getting to grips with the car: "To be honest I just wanted to learn the car and track today so I wasn't focussed on times, but when I saw that I was second I was really pleased. I am happy with the work we have done and I am enjoying it a lot. All the guys from Williams F1 and MotorSport Vision have done a great job. The car is great and I am really proud to be a part of this championship."

Six other drivers dipped below the one minute mark, with Formula Palmer Audi graduate Alex Brundle ending up third quickest. "I knew the lap was pretty quick," he declared. "I feel really comfortable in the car and it is good to know that I am there or thereabouts. I really love driving this car - it is mega."

Experienced Spaniard Andy Soucek was the only driver to set a sub-one minute time in both the morning and afternoon - his afternoon lap of 59.763s was good enough for fourth place. Philipp Eng and Milos Pavlovic were fifth and sixth respectively, but were unable to improve on their early morning pace. Julien Jousse, Sebastian Hohenthal, Mikhail Aleshin and Tobias Hegewald rounded out the top ten.

The 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship looks set to be remarkably close, with a little over one second covering the top 20 drivers at the end of the day. All cars ran today (Wednesday) with brand new bespoke F2 tyres from Avon and the Williams JPH1 enjoyed good reliability with every driver completing more than 50 laps during the day. Natacha Gachnang had the most track time, completing 94 laps in her new F2 car.

Official test times - Afternoon session - Snetterton 6 May:

1. Robert WICKENS CAN Red Bull, Lukoil 59.433s
2. Mirko BORTOLOTTI ITA Red Bull 59.601s +0.168
3. Alex BRUNDLE GBR SEN, GAC, Nasstar 59.655s + 0.222
4. Andy SOUCEK ESP FK-Automotive 59.763s +0.330
5. Philipp ENG Aut 59.963s +0.530
6. Milos PAVLOVIC SRB 59.970s +0.537
7. Julien JOUSSE FRA E.Leclerc 59.974s +0.541
8. Sebastian HOHENTHAL SWE Mafi 1:00.070s +0.637
9. Mikhail ALESHIN RUS Red Bull, Lukoil 1:00.147s +0.714
10. Tobias HEGEWALD GER Hegewald 1:00.164s +0.731

Written: Wed, 06 May 2009 18:59:55